606. Ponche Crema

Curaçao’s version of eggnog is originally of Venezuelan descent. Though recipes vary by family — much like it’s savory companion, the Ayaka — main ingredients typically include milk, eggs, sugar, rum, and other minor ingredients such as vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, and lemon rind.

‘Ponche Crema’ also refers to a commercial product, available since 1900, whose recipe and manufacturing process are famously concealed. Eliodoro González P., born in Guarenas, Venezuela in 1871, is believed to be the creator of ‘Ponche Crema’. Evidently, “he was an early-20th-century Caracas native, a chemist, a perfumist, an advertiser before advertising, a visionary”. Eliodoro González P. invented ‘Ponche Crema’  by experimenting with drinks made from local ingredients: milk, eggs, sugar — mixing in the purest grape alcohol. And folks particularly loved that Ponche Crema could be stored at room temperature.

Granted some prefer its younger Cuban cousin:

'Ponche Kuba'

‘Ponche Kuba’

About 1000awesomethingsaboutcuracao

I'm Carolina Gomes-Casseres, the creator of 1000 Awesome Things About Curaçao. I live in Manhattan but sometimes miss my first awesome island. Thanks for visiting!

2 comments

  1. Pingback: 605. ‘Pan de Jamón’ for the Holidays | 1000 Awesome Things About Curaçao

  2. Robert MIrza

    Thanks for sharing the story of Ponche Crema, because as Pierre Lauffer used to say: “Recordar es vivir”.

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